Page 19 of A Kingdom Restored

“For the moment,” Heath acknowledged unashamedly. He frowned at his cousin. “Heroics are all well and good, Brody. But whatever your thoughts about diplomacy, there’s a place for subtlety. Haven’t you wondered why Percival hasn’t broken out himself? It’s well within the realm of possibility that he’d be able to.”

“Of course I’ve wondered,” said Brody. “I tried to talk him into it when I visited him, but he just dodged the question. I have no idea why he’s being pigheaded when his life is on the line.”

“Well, I have a very good idea,” Heath said shortly. “There are things at stake that you don’t know about. Percival has his reasons for complying.” He didn’t elaborate. No doubt Brody would pump him for answers later, but Heath had no desire to share his family’s personal information with a group of mostly strangers.

“Whatever those reasons are, you’ll have a hard time convincing me that they’re worth Percival hanging for,” Brody shot back. “If his hands are tied from saving himself, it’s all the more reason for us to step in.”

“I agree,” Heath said calmly. “Which is why I said I’ll coordinate the rescue myself if it comes to that. Between us I’m sure we can subdue Percival, pigheaded though he is.”

The hint of a chuckle went around the room, warming Heath’s heart. It was encouraging to be reminded that for all his brother’s folly, he had plenty of friends who cared about him, and had his back.

Some of the guards started to slip out in inconspicuous pairs, and soon there were only a few of them left, along with the cousins.

“Where’s Laura in all this?” Heath asked Bianca.

She shrugged. “We didn’t tell her about the meeting. We weren’t sure she could get away. But I was intending to tell her our plan once we had one.”

Heath nodded slowly. “I’ll do it. I’ll fill her in now.”

His sister had arrived in the capital a week before, with her family in tow. Heath was sure it couldn’t be pleasant, traipsing about the kingdom so often with two babies, but he hadn’t commented. With Percival in prison pending execution, no one would actually expect Laura to stay away.

One of the guards guided Heath through the maze of corridors, sending him out of the barracks via a different door from the one through which he’d entered. It took Heath a minute to recognize his surroundings, but soon he was striding toward his family’s city manor.

He didn’t have to search for Laura. He’d barely made it through the gate when he spotted her, hurrying across the courtyard with little Jacqueline on her hip.

“There you are, Heath!” she called. “Have you been to see Percival?”

Before Heath could respond, he was astonished by the unmistakable rushing that filled the air. He stared upward, amazed to see Rekavidur’s familiar form descending into the manor’s courtyard.

Laura stepped backward, Jacqueline held protectively against her. Laura would recognize Rekavidur, of course. But Heath knew that while his family understood his unusual friendship with Reka, even they were often a little overwhelmed by the dragon’s presence.

“What is it, Reka?” Heath asked, as soon as the dragon had alighted. “Is something wrong?”

“Greetings, Heath,” Reka responded, his tone holding the faint hint of disapproval he always showed when Heath skipped the formalities so valued by his kind. He swiveled his head to face Laura. “Greetings, sister of Heath.”

Laura dipped her head in acknowledgment, but Reka’s attention had passed to the baby in her arms.

“I assumed this infant was one of your twins,” the dragon commented. “But it seems I am mistaken?”

“What?” Laura’s awe was already markedly lessened. She sounded a little offended. “Of course this is one of my babies. This is Jacqueline.”

“Born of your body?” Reka demanded.

“Yes,” she said, still defensive.

“And yet the child has no magic,” Reka mused. “How curious. She must be the first one in the bloodline since the birth of your grandmother. And I thought magic was getting stronger with the generations.”

“How do you know Jacqueline doesn’t have magic?” Laura said, definitely offended now. “I’m sure it’s just too early to tell.”

Reka shook his head. “The absence of magic in her being is notable,” he informed her. He stilled, his gaze suddenly sharp, then lowered his head toward Heath’s sister. “But what is this? Your magic is absent as well. Have you somehow lost it? I didn’t believe it possible.”

“Of course I haven’t lost it,” said Laura, shifting uncomfortably. “My magic is the same as it ever was.”

Rekavidur cocked his head to the side, clearly fascinated by whatever phenomenon he was sensing. “Pass the child to Heath,” he instructed Laura.

She looked disgruntled at being ordered what to do with her own daughter, but after a moment she offered Jacqueline to Heath. It seemed she was still a little in awe of Reka. Heath took his niece with a long-suffering sigh. In his opinion, such unquestioning capitulation would only add to Reka’s already overdeveloped sense of superiority.

“Hey there, Jacqueline,” Heath told the infant quietly, as he clasped her against him in one arm. She nestled in, apparently content with her position.

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